Nehemiah’s opposition sought to defeat him by stopping the rebuilding of Jerusalem’s walls. They tried pressure tactics. The walls went up. They tried threatening violence. The walls went up. They piled on economic pressure. Still, the walls went up. So they tried another trick in their arsenal, an attack against Nehemiah’s character.
The conspiracy against Nehemiah’s character was designed to demonise him in the face of the authorities. Sadly, Satan and enemies of God’s Church try the same playbook today. Just as Christ’s character was wrongly assassinated, so too is that of his Church. But our response should mirror that of Christ’s, and of Nehemiah’s. Trusting in God’s power, and committing ourselves to God’s glory regardless.
After many days of hard toil, the walls of Jerusalem were repaired. All that kept the city from being protected by the actions of brigands was the rehanging of the doors at the gates (v.1). For Nehemiah’s enemies, the window for action was closing.
The first act that his enemies, Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem took, was to suggest a political summit (v.2). At first look, the selection of a neutral venue some distance from Jerusalem and their own towns looked like an attempt at an accord, but “they intended to do me harm” (v.2). He probably never would have made the meeting.
So Nehemiah declined their invitation. “I am doing a great work and I cannot come down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and come down to you?” (v.3). Nehemiah was not stupid. He also was more concerned with God’s glory than whatever small possibility of political reconciliation was there.
The conspirators tried four more times to get Nehemiah out of Jerusalem (v.4). Perhaps they intended to make Nehemiah look uncompromising and intolerant. Perhaps, simply, it was Satan trying the same technique repeatedly like a repeated temptation to sin.
The fifth time, a letter came with false accusations that the Jews intended to rebel and install Nehemiah as their king (vv.5-7). They strongly hint this is what they will tell the Persian king, and that perhaps Nehemiah would like to meet to discuss the situation (v.7).
Again, Nehemiah resisted the accusation and threat. He dismissed their charges as made up, recognising that it was intended to once again stop the work before it was too late for the conspirators (vv.8-9). Instead, Nehemiah leaned on God to strengthen their hands (v.9).
As if this was not enough, the next trouble which Nehemiah had to deal with was the prophet Shemaiah informing him of a plot to kill him, and a suggested flight to the Temple building for sanctuary (v.10). Since the Temple was not a place of sanctuary, and Nehemiah was not allowed to enter the building, this would have discredited Nehemiah amongst the people.
Nehemiah refused to run away. Nehemiah refused to go into the Temple when he was not permitted by God’s Law (v.11). Nehemiah instead trusted in God’s wisdom and protection in the place where he was.
He also recognised that since God would never suggest that a prophet encourage someone to break God’s Law, that Shemaiah’s message was false and Shemaiah was a hireling of Tobiah and Sanballat (v.12). It was another attempt to give Nehemiah a bad name, this time amongst his own people rather than in the hearing of the King (v.13).
It seems that the stench of corruption within the religious leadership of the Jews extended beyond Shemaiah, because Nehemiah also asked God to remember the evil deeds of others who tried to sow fear in Nehemiah (v.14).
Nehemiah faced an external conspiracy against his character. Internal groups who should have supported him were instead paid off and acting against God’s interests.
Sadly this is a reality of today just as much as in Nehemiah’s day. External forces seek to discredit the Church. They may do so openly with accusations and threats to inform the authorities of false information or through actions intended to make the Church look intolerant and inflexible. Unfortunately Satan’s playbook does not vary much. But then, if it works, why change?
Internal threats are also a reality for believers. Sometimes, supposed people we think we should be able to rely on within the Church are actually in league with the Church’s external enemies.
Our answer to these threats is not to cower in fear, but to trust in God. Everything which happens does so under God’s reign. Everything which seeks to threaten us, whether human or satanic in origin, is under God’s rule and reign and his power. Nehemiah shows us how to live facing these unjust threats – to trust in God, and rely on his power. To put our attention back on God and his glory, and let God handle the consequences.
In doing so, we are like our Lord Jesus who was falsely accused throughout his ministry, but especially in his trial before his crucifixion. Jesus’ character was vindicated by God at his resurrection. The Church’s character, and ours as well, will be too.